Blue Raincoat Artists acquires Berlin DJ agency

Blue Raincoat Artists has acquired leading Berlin-based DJ and electronic music booking and management agency Spar-ks.

Under the terms of the deal, founder and CEO of Spar-ks, Katrin Schlotfeldt, will join the Blue Raincoat team along with the full roster including Sonja Moonear, Barac, Matthew Dear/Audion and Martin Buttrich.

Blue Raincoat Artists already has a focus on electronic artists, though recently branched out with rising indie band Cigarettes After Sex. Its management roster includes The Belleville Three (consisting of techno pioneers Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Juan Atkins), as well as Kevin Saunderson as a solo artist and for Inner City.

Overseen by manager Jamie Smithson, the electronic music division of Blue Raincoat Artists also includes DJ/recording artist Francesca Lombardo, Infinity Ink, Delano Smith and South London Ordnance.

Jeremy Lascelles and Robin Millar, co-founders of Blue Raincoat Artists, said: “We made a commitment right at the start of Blue Raincoat to represent electronic artists and DJs and we have the perfect person to drive this activity in Jamie Smithson. It was a natural fit for us to branch out into the agency business, and having got to know Katrin during the time when we both worked with Luciano, she was our number one choice. She has great experience in the DJ and electronic music world, and has worked with some of the biggest names in this field and has built an enviable client roster with Spar-ks. We are thrilled now to have a presence in mainland Europe and we welcome her to our company."

Jamie Smithson added: “Myself, Jeremy and Robin have been trying to find a way we can work more closely with Katrin since we first met her. We feel with the industry growing and evolving, there is an opportunity for management that addresses full career development. The addition of Spar-ks with Katrin’s wealth of experience and expertise will help us build on that.”

Katrin Schlotfeldt said: “I feel very honoured to be working with Jeremy, Robin, Jamie, and the whole team at Blue Raincoat Music. After working with them on Luciano I have always wanted to find a way to continue the relationship and grow with them. The electronic music industry is changing with some new and very exciting opportunities and we are already starting to look at ways we can explore new avenues.”